Under that huge headline was a blurry photograph of claw marks supposedly left by a demon.
The report was filled with suspicion toward "sword-carrying ronin" and praise for the authorities' "swift and decisive" arrests.
"The authorities? Heh."
Kirishima Bupai took a sip of liquor. As the burning liquid slid down his throat, he scoffed. His mocking voice was quiet, but it reached the owner polishing glasses behind the bar clearly.
"A bunch of useless trash. Not worth a damn."
"Can't catch the real culprit, so they blame anyone carrying a sword? And we're not supposed to go out at night? Well, I happen to like going out at night. I've got a cure for anyone who has a problem with that."
The owner was dumbfounded by the time he finished.
The tavern owner was a scrawny, middle-aged man. His hand shook at those words, and he nearly dropped his glass.
He nervously glanced around, making sure none of the other customers were paying attention, before quietly approaching and advising him with some fear, "Sir... watch what you say!"
"You can't say things like that! Things really have been strange lately. You really mustn't go out at night!"
"That man-eating demon... I heard it's prowling around the train station! And..." He swallowed, leaned closer, and lowered his voice further.
"The authorities... it seems someone there is deliberately muddying the waters! I heard a lot of people wearing black-and-white uniforms and carrying swords... those swordsmen you mentioned, right?"
At this point, his expression abruptly grew serious, and he stared fixedly at Kirishima Bupai. "The Police Station has arrested loads of them without even bothering to find out what happened!"
"They say it's to help with the investigation, but hardly any of them have come out again... in the end, they all... all